Major Milestone Solidifies Z-Wave as the Leading Technology for Wireless Home Control
Milpitas, Calif. – January 5, 2010 – The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of global companies dedicated to building home control products based on Z-Wave wireless technology, today reached a major milestone with the certification of its 350th product, the Kwikset SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect.
“This is a momentous day for Z-Wave,” noted Raoul Wijgergangs, chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance. “From day one we have been focused on creating a global ecosystem that allows products from various manufacturers to work together seamlessly – with Z-Wave being the glue that brings them all together. There’s no other wireless home control technology that comes even close to the number of certified Z-Wave products available to consumers.”
Z-Wave provides an end-to-end solution that allows the homeowner to wirelessly manage and control lighting, thermostats, appliances and home entertainment systems from anywhere in the world. The Z-Wave certification process is extensive and those products that achieve certification can be identified by the Z-Wave logo on their packaging. All Z-Wave certified products are interoperable, making it easy to build a Z-Wave home network.
2009 will go down as a momentous year for the growth of Z-Wave around the globe. Some of the major successes include:
• Retail Growth – Z-Wave products are now available through three major retailers – Radio Shack, Fry’s and Lowe’s – along with numerous e-tailers. Manufacturers selling products through the retail channel include Cooper, GE/Jasco, Hawking, Homemanageables, Leviton, Schlage, Universal Electronics Inc. (NEVO) and Wayne-Dalton.
• Home Energy Management – Z-Wave puts home energy management in the hands of consumers, while also allowing utilities to communicate with home systems directly – with or without a smart meter. Consumers are actively seeking simple ways to “go green” and Z-Wave falls squarely into that category due to its low-cost and interoperability. Significant traction is taking hold in Europe with Kamstrup, Horstmann and Modstrøem, while major manufacturers in the U.S. are also introducing Z-Wave-certified home energy management solutions including Black & Decker, Schlage (Trane), iControl Networks and 4Home, to name a few.
• Next-Gen Home Security – consumer demand for next-generation interactive home services is accelerating the growth and availability of security and access control solutions in the Z-Wave ecosystem. ADT joined the Z-Wave Alliance in October 2009, adding an industry behemoth with a respected brand and a large customer base. Other Z-Wave Alliance members developing Z-Wave-based security and access control solutions include Schlage, Black & Decker and Wayne-Dalton.
• Enhanced Interoperability – the announcement that Z-Wave interfaces with Control4®, the leader in affordable IP-based home control and entertainment systems, in September 2009 was a huge milestone that opened Z-Wave to the more than one million Control4 products on the market. Ultimately, this means a much larger selection of home control and home entertainment products for consumers.
“We’re excited that Kwikset’s SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect has been confirmed as the 350th certified Z-Wave product,” added Dave Albert, vice president of Residential Access Solutions at Black & Decker’s Security Hardware Division. “The growth of the global Z-Wave ecosystem continues to build momentum, and we are committed to Z-Wave technology as consumer demand continues to rise.”
The Z-Wave Alliance will be exhibiting at CES 2010 (Booth # 20901 South Hall 1) in Las Vegas from January 7-10, where the latest and greatest Z-Wave certified products will be on display, including the Kwikset SmartCode with Home Connect.
About Z-Wave
Z-Wave is an award-winning, proven and interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers and security systems. Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life including remote home monitoring, home healthcare, safety and security, and energy conservation. Z-Wave certified products are currently available from leading consumer brands in more than 350 products. For more information about Z-Wave, please visit www.z-wave.com.
About Kwikset
For more than 60 years, Kwikset, manufacturer of America’s most trusted name in security, has provided beauty, security and peace of mind for millions of families. For additional information on Kwikset products, visit www.kwikset.com or www.kwikset.com/wirelesslocks.
Black & Decker Hardware and Home Improvement (BDHHI) Group is a division of Black & Decker, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of power tools, power tool accessories and security hardware. Today, the BDHHI Group includes some of the most recognizable hardware and home improvement brands in the world including Baldwin®, Kwikset, Weiser®, Price Pfister® and K2™ Commercial Hardware by Black & Decker.
About the Z-Wave Alliance
Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, FAKRO, Ingersoll-Rand Leviton, Sigma Designs, Wayne-Dalton, and Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI). Its members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security. Z-Wave technology is the foundation of all products manufactured by the Alliance members. For more information about the Z-Wave Alliance, visit www.z-wavealliance.org.
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